The Recorder Scheme

Gillian Gear

The HALH Recorders Scheme was founded in 1983 following a meeting of members of the then Hertfordshire Council for Local History (now the Hertfordshire Association for Local History). The meeting had been called by the chairman, Dr Doris Jones-Baker. The aim was to form a team of volunteers prepared to record the current history of their areas for the benefit of future historians. A number of people put their names forward to work as recorders and Gillian Gear agreed to act as a co-ordinator.

Following the workshop parish councils and local history societies were approached to nominate recorders for their area. Over the next few years guidelines were produced to help with the recorders' work and annual workshops were held to enable recorders to exchange information. Recorders receive bi-annual newsletters and are encouraged to submit annual reports on their activities and changes in their areas. These are passed to Herts. Archives and Local Studies for safe keeping. At the beginning of 2000 there were sixty recorders working in the county.

At the 1999 Autumn Workshop of the HALH Recorder Scheme a proposal was put forward that the year 2000 should be marked in a special way. It was agreed that accounts of community activities should be gathered and a book produced from the material to record Community Life in Hertfordshire - 2000

During 2000 recorders old and new were busy collecting material and photographs and compiling reports. By the end of the year five lever arch files had been filled and the task of writing, editing and preparing the material for publication began. Recorders were kept informed of the progress of the project through newsletters and workshops. By the spring of 2001 Gillian was able to report that the archive had been collected and the book was on target. The financing and organisation of publication was the next hurdle to overcome and with the help of parish councils, local groups and Herts. Publications, this volume is evidence of a successful outcome. On behalf of all the people involved with its production we hope you enjoy this community based project.

Recorders will continue to collect archives, photographs and oral history on their areas and anyone who has material that might be of use can contact their local recorder through Herts. Archives and Local Studies or HALH.

The book contain the following reports

Abbots Langley, Aldbury, Anstey, Ashwell, Aston, Ayot St Peter

Baldock, Barkway, Barley, Bengeo, Benington, Berkhamsted, Bishops Stortford, Bovingdon, Braughing, Bricket Wood, Bushey

Chipperfield, Chipping Barnet, Chorleywood, Codicote, Corney Heath, Cottered, CPRE, Cuffley

Datchworth

East Barnet, Elstree & Borehamwood, Essendon

Flamstead

Gadebridge

Harpenden & Batford, Hatfield, Hertford, Hertford County Change Ringers, Herts Family & Population Society, Hexton, Hitchin, Hunsdon

Kimpton.

Letchworth, Little Hadham, London Colney

New Barnet

Oxhey

Pirton, Potters Bar

Radlett & Aldenham, Redbourn

Sacombe, St Ippolyts, St Mary's (Hemel Hempstead), St Michaels (St Albans), St Paul's Walden, Sandridge, Sarratt, Sawbridgeworth, Stanstead St Margarets, Stevenage

Tewin

Ware, Watford, Watton-at-Stone, Wheatharnstead, Wilstone (Tring)